State civil rights office urges Ann Arbor school district to conduct more cultural training in wake of assault

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights issued a statement this afternoon calling on the Ann Arbor school district to step up its conflict resolution and cultural competency programs following an assault Tuesday in which a Muslim student was allegedly called racial and ethnic slurs.

The statement from Kelvin Scott, the director of the department, says: “The Department of Civil Rights is concerned about information it has received indicating tensions in the community between youth of various ethnic groups were high even before this incident occurred. Unfortunately, that tension may have escalated as the week has progressed.

“We urge Ann Arbor schools not to treat this as an isolated incident to be resolved by discipline alone, but rather, to acknowledge the broader issues involved. The inclusion of conflict resolution and cultural competency programming is needed immediately and for all students. To have such an occurrence take place as the new school year begins is truly disheartening.”

A department spokeswoman said the office isn't conducting a full investigation of the incident because it hasn't been formally asked to.

Ann Arbor Superintendent Todd Roberts said the district "certainly took appropriate discipline and are working to provide conflict resolution to the students involved."

He also said the district has a in-depth cultural competency program already in place.

The assault took place Tuesday.Â According to district spokeswoman Liz Margolis, an argument started between two female students on a bus heading from Skyline High School. The bus driver thought the argument was settled down when the two students were let out at the bus stop near North Maple Estates.

According to Margolis, a fight ensued and a group of between five to seven students got involved.

The female Muslim student suffered cuts on her head that required six stitches, said Dawud Walid, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

According to Walid, the attackers, whom he said were black, “reportedly shouted “F*** Arabs, they are dirty,” pulled off the girl’s Islamic headscarf (hijab), dragged her to a nearby home, and inflicted injuries that required six stitches on her face. The victim’s brother was also attacked while trying to come to her defense.”

Skyline High School Principal Sulura Jackson said in an e-mail to parents that the students involved were disciplined.

“It is our goal to make sure that such isolated incidence of conflict among our students does not occur. We will continue to stress the importance of building relationships and respect for self and others, personal integrity and the value of diversity in our school community,” Jackson wrote to parents.

The district did not release any other details on the punishment or the students involved.

Ann Arbor police have said they are investigating the incident, but would not provide any other details.

The MDCR said the district should use this situation to teach students.

“All our children have the right to attend schools that are safe and free of harassment. Students need to be provided the tools to work together and refute the many misconceptions about people or other races and faiths. Children in particular should never have to fear what may happen to them while they attend school, participate in school-sponsored events or while they are traveling to and from school.”

Walid said he's pleased with statement from the MDCR.

"We have been in close contact with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights on the issue and are committed to working with them in enhancing the appreciation of diversity, in particular understanding of Muslims and Islam, at Skyline High,” he said.

Walid said he had a conversation with Roberts Thursday.

“We had a candid conversation, which I will not discuss the particulars," he said. "I will say, however, that we discussed the differing accounts given as well as the bus driver not seeing the major part of the conflict but the initial conflict.

“The brunt of the violence took place after the bus driver pulled away. I still fail to understand that if the bus driver thought that the incident was violent enough to call the police, then why did the driver fail to stay to monitor the situation instead of driving off.”

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.